KARACHI: Umar Ahsan Khan, CEO and Managing Director of Dawlance (Private) Limited, has been elected President of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) for the 2026-28 term.
The election results were announced at the Chamber’s Extra-Ordinary General Meeting held on Tuesday. Ahmed Zahid Zaheer, Country Chairman and General Manager of Chevron Lubricants Pakistan (Private) Limited, was elected Senior Vice President, while Dr Syed Amir Ali, President and CEO of Meezan Bank Limited, was elected Vice President.
Umar Ahsan Khan succeeds Yousaf Hussain, who served as OICCI President during 2024-26.
Speaking at the occasion, outgoing President Yousaf Hussain welcomed the progress made towards economic stability, but emphasised that stabilisation alone would not be sufficient to achieve sustainable economic growth. He called for stronger investment, exports, productivity and job creation to build on the recent gains.
The newly elected President, Umar Ahsan Khan, said OICCI’s advocacy would continue to be constructive, credible and evidence-based, with greater emphasis on presenting practical solutions alongside identifying policy challenges.
“Our advocacy must remain constructive, credible and evidence-based. We should not simply highlight what needs to change. Wherever possible, we should bring practical solutions to the table and work with the government and other stakeholders to make them happen,” he said.
Khan noted that foreign direct investment (FDI) declined by 34 per cent to $1.65 billion during the last financial year, stressing that macroeconomic stability alone could not ensure sustained investment.
“Macroeconomic stabilisation may get a country onto an investor’s shortlist, but it is the broader investment environment that ultimately determines whether capital is committed,” he said.
During its 2026-28 term, the new Managing Committee will focus on strengthening engagement with the government, regulators and international institutions. It will also further enhance OICCI’s data-driven research and continue its initiatives and platforms covering climate, diversity and inclusion, technology and artificial intelligence.
OICCI Managing Committee 2026-28
Umar Ahsan Khan, President – Dawlance (Private) Limited
Ahmed Zahid Zaheer, Senior Vice President – Chevron Pakistan Lubricants (Private) Limited
Dr Syed Amir Ali, Vice President – Meezan Bank Limited
Ahsan Zafar Syed – Engro Corporation Limited
Amin Mohammad Khowaja – J.P. Morgan Pakistan (Private) Limited
Erum Shakir Rahim – GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited
Khurram Shahzad Khan – Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited
Sami A. Wahid – The Coca-Cola Export Corporation
Syed Anis Ahmed – Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited
Syed Kashan Hasan – FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited
